Czechoslovakia Michel # 1805 kleinbogen

Searching around my stock for something nice, and thinking that Durer was great!

Here I come across issue from Czechoslovakia (dead country collectors can be interested), year of issue 6 July, 1968. 42 years ago, and so beautiful production, so quality of printing, engraved, color composition hardly that You can imagine it!

This issue is named after 37th Congress FIP, issued in block of four with gutter between two horizontally stamp. On gutter printed World Stamp Exhibition - that was held in Prague (today Czech republic capital city), topic is like You see, Art, Painting, Bible, and some more if You want. In Czech catalog (Specializovana Prirucka, edition from 1988) this issue is named also like auto portrait of Durer. What this Czech catalog have when talking about prices? Not something big, just 60 point - if it is not clear for collectors, it is quality point measurement accepted by Commission in any International held exhibition. Now, when I see on Michel (2007 edition) catalog, there is very nice prices for sheet of 4, 30.00 euro in mint condition, that will fit nice in any collection. But - probably, to find it in perfect condition will be little bit hard task, because period (42 year old item), glue that are cube shaped and very "soft", humidity will attack it "on spot" - because that, handle it very carefully when in Your hand!

Scott catalog (#1555) have prices just for single stamp, and mentioning that existed sheets of 2x2 with label, without stating prices, single stamp have it 3.75 $ against 5.00 euro in Michel, I think that this stamp deserve more than 3.75 $, near full prices of Michel, but it is upon collectors to decide.

I will see just according quantity printed, single stamp are printed 632 400 pcs, and sheet of 4 in just 27 431! Quantity is reasonable for this kind of issue, because many people will search for it if want to complete any serious collection of Art!

Now, we all know, that catalog prices are just "orientation" for market, and Michel catalog have it almost for any country reduced - and for Czechoslovakia, probably You will find it for minimum/maximum 50% catalog value - mean - very affordable for "People Who Know what Philately Is"!

Pitcairn Island:

Darwin Charles, 2009 issue: This country surprised me again! 2009 year, many countries around globe issued this set, to commemorate Bicentenary of the Birth of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), but - I see one of best design just from this country, and maybe Serbia can come close to it - but not so great like Pitcairn Island.

Here we have set of 4, face value of 7.50 NZ$, with main picture of great Darwin there, but also fauna topic around main picture, plus one nice ship - here it will be hard for topical collectors, because fauna, ship, birds topic are included in this set - I don't see what is quantity printed, but if we know that it is printing sheet of 2 panes of 15 stamp with central gutter - it will be very hard to complete and include it in Your collection. Here will be some option to have, like set, gutter between, pane of 15, and probably complete printing sheet - it will take You some nice money just for this issue. But I think, that because of beauty of set - it is worth.

Stamps are issued on 24 June 2009, and will be in on sale for period of 2 years, mean till June 2011, full year You have to obtain it. FD cancel is also very nicely designed, that will fit well in collection.

If we know that face value is 7.50 NZ$ - it is not so big deal for single set, I see that on web dealer, they are pricing same set for around 5.00 GBP - some more and some little bit less - but, difference is not small.

What to say about Darwin? Most of us know almost everything that we need to know, and I will just repeat - when most in Europe believe that world was created by God, Darwin wrote that evolution occur! It was great "bomb" in religious community that was "boss" of the world - and I think, from there start all evolution and revolution around globe!

Slovakia 2010

Even that it is new issue, I must say clearly, include it in Your collection! It is worth, it is great, it is best issue in all history of Slovakian Post - and it will have nice value!

About what is talking? This is one issue named for "400 yr of Zilina Synod" - in description for this issue on Slovakia Post web site, between all, it say: "...the Zilina Synod meant constitution and creation church organization of Evangelical Church...".

Issued on March 30, 2010, one s/s, with single value stamp on, face value are 1.10 euro, (by way, Slovakia installed euro like Slovakian currency, which are, by my opinion, very great dumb move), quantity printed are just 60 000 - too low for all collectors, hardly that You will find it postally used on envelope - and also because many topic collectors will need it in personal collection. You can include it to art, religion, churches, history, birds, Bible and one more intriqued - to JUDAICA topic!

Why Judaica when it is Evangelical Church? See on top/middle of stamp! There is name "God" in Hebrew inscription (even that it is against Jewish tradition to "..use God name in no reason occasion..."). and also one "Magen david star".

But what to say about overall impression for this sheet? I think it is masterpiece! Gravure, color, detail, composition - in one - perfect work!!!!

And black print? Even more than original in beauty! For black print, I don't have information about quantity printed, it is not available on web site, but every one sheet in black color have numeration imprinted - samples that I have are numbered 001509 and 001510 - probably, no more than few thousand, but I can not say for sure. sales prices for black print directly from Slovak Post are 2.50 euro, if You will add next expense for postage delivery, payment delivery, and delivery to Your client - that will rise prices to almost 12-15.00 euro in sales prices to final collectors - and after few year - no one will sell it in less than 50.00 euro per one - if You will be lucky to find seller.

I have just few left in my stock - and probably it will be offered just on "first come - first serve" basis.

Jordan 2009 issue "Breast Cancer"

Even that I don't have lot information about this issue, I must to include it in collection, this is joint issue with USA and many other countries.

Same design like in every other country that issued it, between all I remember also Macedonia, Kosovo, other countries list You can obtain from Gerald Shean, who made one great collection of it.

Short info is here:

I have a small paper from Jordan Post that says the designer was Creative Marketing Solutions; the printer was Oriental Press, in Bahrain; and that the quantity was 5,000 stamps for each value. (I think there is only one value -- 30 Piaster).

From sheetlet, I can see that stamp are originally printed in one face value, but additional value of 30 piaster are imprinted - probably that will go to charity.

For me, design are really great! Body and "pain" color are well represented - and design alone are well done job.

Czech Republic, 2009, Praga Gallery

And again, Czech republic made us happy - I will shout again - HAPPY - and thanks to Czech Post! 

This is one really great work, great choice for ART stamp, to give one presentation of work from Frantisek Zenisek (1849-1916), with his work "Oldrich and Bozena" from 1884 yr. I really ask - why, but why other countries didn't made same design, same tehnique to made stamp? Just Czech Post have money for it? Other countries, with bigger industry and population didn't do it! Why? Just because stamp are less valued from other things? If I don't make mistake, stamp are legal tender, to pay some service - isn't? Same like money! This sheet/block are really one art work! Face value are 1.90 US$ at present, but hurry to obtain it from Post in Czech, because in next few month Michel catalogue will valued it much-much more! If You will choice/prefer dealer to supply You with it - prepare to pay twice face value - and in the near future it will go for three time more. I don't know what other collector think about, probably someone will prefer modern art, but I'm sure - everyone will like this one. Suggest to all, include it in Your collection!

Czechoslovakia Michel Block 38 - Tiziano

For long period I didn't have time to "search" my stock with material that are available for sale, and today, simply, working around stamp, I "catch" this item at first sight! I don't know why, but it come like "star" - gravure, color, and composition of author, this beautiful block can tell us lot!

Michel block 38, Scott 2197, 

issued on 1978, Sept.12, originally, it is block 37, but additional imprit is made on the side of sheet for entrance ticket PRAGA Philatelic Exhibition - this inscription is main difference between two block, and yes - difference in prices also!

What "catch" my eye is main picture of Tiziano, and choice of author, to made two stamp out from this picture, where we have violinist (Apolon escorter), and King Midas. Music and death, King and escorter to death, King's thinking about punishment, beautiful lady taking skin of Apolon, with another devil bringing water to the scene - You can actually, sit against this issue (better against original picture, but...) and practicing Your feeling in art! Color in use, this finest expression of artist, it must be fascinating in original! I think, that this issue MUST be in every serious collection.

Prices have it different from Scott and Michel - they usually have it because market covering each territory of catalogue. Michel in Europe have an value of 40.00 euro for this block, that are much more higher that first block 37 (have it at 15.00 euro), and Scott in USA valued it at

just 25.00 $ - difference are great, but when I checked my evidence how much was sold from initial stock of 50 pcs before one year - I see that is left just 11 pcs - main market in Europe valued it well - in USA I sold just two copy - not enought for serious market - probably most collector need just basic issue and not this one imprinted.

I lok at quantity printed, and Michel tell us that it is 233700 copy imprinted, 371100 without inscription - not big quantity today, but probably, when it was Czechoslovakia it was enought for collectors around globe.

I wish to everyone serious collectors think about this issue - it is fascinating!

Czech republic - Nature Protection:

And here we come again! 

Really nice surprise for Jewish New Year (5770) - no, it don't have any connection, it simply, fell near this Jewish holiday - it is better say - like usually - continuing with nice topic of Protected Nature Reserve, which have an UNESCO recognition - because of beauty, because quantity printed, and because country origin - I think that it must be in every collection.

Issued on September 2, 2009 - face value of 53.00 KC (around 3.00 US$ per sheet), have an set of 4 value and 4 coupon. Printed in gravure and offsett color tehnique. Quantity is relatively low, 80 000 printed, that reflect probably collectors subscription and some quantity to be delivered to post offices - but hardly that You will find "many" on postally used cover around. I personally ordered one CTO just to have one in collection, and if we will count quantity that are used on FDC's - chance that You will find it on postally used cover are slim.

On stamps are shown: Eudia Pavonia, Aglia Tau, Cervus Elaphus, Bubo Bubo, Ciconia Nigra, Lunaria rediviva, Tyto Alba and on coupon is shown Caprimulgus Europeaus, Myotis Myotis, Smerinthus Ocellatus, Muscardinus Avellanarius and Rana dalmatina.

I will warmly recommended it to everyone!